Hummingbird Predators And Pests You Don't Want Anywhere Near Your Feeders

It can be hard to foster a good balance in the ecosystem of your garden. You plant the right plants that work well together in harmony with the soil, repelling pests and attracting pollinators to your garden while also attracting good predators that keep your plants safe from pests that bug them and want to munch on their leaves. It can be frustrating when that perfectly timed dance in your garden is thrown off by a greedy and unwelcome gatecrasher who preys on your pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are just some of the fan favorites in the garden that come to pollinate and breathe life into its vibrant ecosystem. 

Hummingbirds are particularly vulnerable to pests that lie in wait to rob them of their sweet nectar or trap them to devour them entirely. These include the prayin mantis, frogs, snakes, chipmunks, and bees, among others. All hope is not lost though. There are a few tips and tricks you can deploy to outsmart these pests and keep your adorable hummingbirds safe from harm in your garden.

Insects that prey on others usually attack insects that are smaller than they are but they have been known to target larger prey if they have gone a long time without food. Dragonflies can be similar in size to hummingbirds, which can make for a surprisingly fair fight, depending on the situation. Placing the feeder away from trees might reduce the risk of dragonflies stalking hummingbirds near feeders but they can still wait for them near other plants that attract dragonflies, so be careful when placing your feeder.

Hummingbirds use spider webs strands when nesting. They use them to attach their nest to branches and leaves as they continue to build. This strange choice of material can sometimes land them in big trouble when their feathers get trapped in the spider webs, where they'll eventually be preyed on. Though spiders aren't particularly to blame for this one, you can do some minor maintenance in your garden to ensure that spiders aren't weaving their webs between vegetation or near feeders where pollinators and beneficial insects can be trapped.

Slimy intruders like snakes like to prey on hummingbirds' eggs and their young. While snakes may be a good way to keep rats out of your garden, they shouldn't be the first choice on your list of solutions. You can protect your hummingbirds by placing feeders far away from trees and shrubs where snakes might be able to make their way up to where hummingbirds gather. You can also provide safer nesting grounds for hummingbirds like thornier shrubs and cacti or trees with rougher barks to deter slithering predators.

While bees and wasps normally keep to themselves and tend to their business, they can act as a deterrent for hummingbirds if they happen to bump into each other at a feeder brimming with sugar water. Bees don't usually attack hummingbirds but the small birds don't survive the stings when they do happen. They quickly succumb to the venom, as their little bodies can't tolerate it. You can protect your hummingbirds from bees and wasps near feeders by attaching nectar guards onto your feeders that only hummingbirds can reach with their long tongues.

Gnats are uninvited guests who likes to gatecrash. Finding gnats in your feeders is a sign that there may be bacteria and fungi growing in there. Hummingbirds can only eat so much of the sugar you put into the feeder in a day, the rest sits there and starts developing bacteria. Hummingbirds aren't bothered by the gnats, but bacteria and fungi in the feeder could be harmful to them. You can get rid of gnats by reducing the sugar you add to the water and cleaning the feeder regularly to ensure no bacteria is gathering.

Raccoons, opossums, and skunks like to gather around bird feeders to catch any scraps or extra seeds that might fall. These animals are likely to return if they find food in your yard, and they may destroy your hummingbird feeder. You can banish raccoons from your yard by using "no mess" bird seeds without shells to avoid scraps that feed and attract these pests, though you may need to trap and release them if they persist. With water feeders, hanging them high off the ground should be enough to keep them away.